46
Amani Trust case number
978
Report number
Sex
male
22
Name
S.C
Age
22
ID number
Province
Midlands
District
Zvishavane
Political Affiliation
MDC
Date of report
10/04/02
Nature of incident
Assault
Date of incident
13/03/02
Employment
Unemployed
Perpetrators
Zanu PF supporters
Case history
S.C. was on his way to an MDC meeting on 10/04/02 at 15.00h. He saw a group of
approximately forty Zanu PF supporters and decided to turn back as he was wearing an
MDC t-shirt. Before he could return to safety however he was spotted by one of the Zanu
PF supporters who ran and held onto his t-shirt. S.C. punched the man who fell. In
retaliation, the other Zanu PF supporters began to stone S.C, who fell to the floor after a
rock hit him on the head. As he lay on the floor, the assault continued and he was hit with
a large rock at the base of his spine. Eventually the police arrived on the scene and S.C.
was taken to hospital.
Medical assessment
SRQ-8 Score: 5
The patient was transferred to Harare by ambulance, 2 weeks after the assault because of
bilateral weakness in his legs. He was admitted to hospital under a neurosurgeon and CT
scan revealed a fracture of the transverse process of Lumbar vertebra 3. At present he is
still under treatment. He also shows evidence of psychological trauma as shown by his
high SRQ-8
AMANI TRUST: Beating your opposition. Torture during the 2002 Presidential campaign in Zimbabwe.
Select target paragraph3
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